Hungarian Defence Forces acquire new Scorpio medical vehicles

The Hungarian Defence Forces have received three new Scorpio rapid casualty evacuation vehicles, bringing their total fleet of such specialized medical vehicles to five. The Ministry of Defence announced that the military is expected to acquire a total of eleven Scorpio vehicles by 2029.

Built on Iveco chassis, these vehicles are designed for heavy terrain and can carry up to 6,900 kilograms with a top speed of 120 km/h. Unlike civilian ambulances, the internal layout allows for multiple casualties to be transported simultaneously, with configurations accommodating either four lying patients, or a mix of lying and seated patients, or up to six seated patients.

The new vehicles will first enter service in Debrecen and Várpalota before being deployed to other military medical centers. This procurement marks a shift from previous years, which focused on road-based ambulances, toward specialized equipment capable of operating in extreme off-road conditions.